---
name: New Research Note
slug: new-research-note
category: Writing
description: New Research Note scaffolds a durable research note in docs/research so findings stay traceable to sources in the repo. Use it when starting a multi-source investigation or capturing sources you want preserved.
github: "https://github.com/PromptPartner/agentsmith/tree/master/skills/new-research"
language: Python
stars: 185
forks: 5
install: "npx degit https://github.com/PromptPartner/agentsmith/tree/master/skills/new-research ~/.claude/skills/new-research"
installs_to: ~/.claude/skills/new-research
source_path: skills/new-research/SKILL.md
collection_size: 13
category_size: 1279
collection_url: "https://dirskills.com/collections/PromptPartner/agentsmith"
added: 2026-09-06T05:20:49.665Z
last_synced: 2026-09-06T05:20:49.665Z
canonical_url: "https://dirskills.com/skills/new-research-note"
---

# New Research Note

New Research Note scaffolds a durable research note in docs/research so findings stay traceable to sources in the repo. Use it when starting a multi-source investigation or capturing sources you want preserved.

**Install:**

```bash
npx degit https://github.com/PromptPartner/agentsmith/tree/master/skills/new-research ~/.claude/skills/new-research
```

## README

# New research note

Research belongs in the repo, traceable to sources, and is never silently deleted (R9). This
scaffolds one note per topic.

## When this fires
"start a research note" / "capture these sources" / beginning any multi-source investigation
whose findings should outlive the session.

## Fast path — if the Agentsmith CLI is available
Run `agentsmith new-research "topic name"` — use `.agentsmith/agentsmith` on macOS/Linux or
`.agentsmith\\agentsmith.cmd` on Windows when the command is not on PATH. It slugifies the title and writes
`docs/research/<slug>.md` from the template (it won't overwrite an existing file).

## Fallback — no CLI
1. slug = the topic lowercased, every run of non-alphanumeric characters → `-`, ends trimmed.
2. If `docs/research/<slug>.md` already exists, STOP — append to it, never overwrite.
3. Otherwise create it with a no-delete banner (obsolete → move to `docs/research/_archive/`, R9)
   and these sections:
   - **Question / scope**
   - **Sources consulted** — url or citation; what you actually opened, dated.
   - **Findings** — each traceable to a source above; mark single-sourced / uncertain items.
   - **Open questions / what was NOT checked.**

## Report
Name the file created and remind the operator to commit it (R9 — research lives in git, not
memory). Every finding you add later must cite a source already in the note.